Sri Lanka vs South Africa: 1st Test Preview

South Africa will be 22554 runs, 300 wickets and 369 catches light when they collide with Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. Jacques Kallis hung up his wonderfully worn Test boots at the end of the home series against India in December 2013 while Graeme Smith, the last of South Africa's old guard, departed a couple of months later. Come July 16, South Africa will embark on a new era, and under a new captain in Hashim Amla.

The day will also mark the beginning of the end of an era for Sri Lanka with Mahela Jayawardene announcing his decision to retire from Tests at the conclusion of the series against Pakistan in August later this year, quickly following at the heels of his T20I retirement.

South Africa, having scripted their first ODI series win in the Emerald Isle, will be looking to extend their fine form into the Tests too and take giant strides towards reclaiming the Number 1 Test spot. Sri Lanka collectively outperformed England to nail only their fourth Test series win outside Asia but they must be hurting from the ODI series loss at the hands of South Africa, the first trophy that slipped out of their grasp this year.

Sri Lanka:Dimuth Karunaratne, having failed to pass 50 in his last 6 innings, has been axed in favor of Upul Tharanga, who returns to the Test fold after a seven-year hiatus. Leading Sri Lanka A against England Lions, the latter shone but his comeback was far from expected. Needless to say, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara (tied on 11493 Test runs) are the batting mainstays to go with the solidity of Kaushal Silva at the top of the order. The hosts also have the luxury of Angelo Mathews' adaptability in the lower middle-order.

In absence of the injured Prasanna Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal is likely to fulfill the keeping duties. Meanwhile, Lahiru Thirimanne's shambolic recent form (0,0,2,2) has triggered the alarm bells, especially with Kithuruwan Vinthanage breathing down his neck.

On the bowling front, the spin twins in Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera will be the key towards taking 20 wickets. The rejuvenated pair of Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad seem the automatic bowling picks, a fit-again Suranga Lakmal notwithstanding. Nuwan Pradeep has missed the cut because of a muscle strain. The other Nuwan in Sri Lanka's ranks - Kulasekara - falls into the absentee list as well.

South Africa:Dean Elgar is all set to audition for the opening berth alongside Alviro Petersen in the post-Smith era. South Africa themselves have a bit of injury woes to grapple with. AB de Villiers remains an iffy starter after aggravating the hamstring injury he sustained during his series clinching 108 in the final ODI. If the 30-year old is ruled out, then Quinton de Kock, who hit a hundred of his own in the same match, will be handed over the gloves. The uncapped Stiaan van Zyl, who was the top scorer in the Sunfoil first-class competition last year, is also in the mix. JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis add heft to the middle-order but Hashim Amla's technical virtuosity and ice-coolness marks him as South Africa's Most Valuable Player.

Dale Steyn set the ball rolling in a nip and tuck battle with Mitchell Johnson but the Protean quick has tailed off since then. It will be interesting to view if Morne Morkel is capable of generating his typical lift from a length on rather unresponsive pitches whilst Vernon Philander is fit and ready to attack the stumps after recovering from a viral infection that sidelined him for the final ODI. Kyle Abbott and Wayne Parnell are the other seam bowling options for Amla.

Imran Tahir, who was at it in the ODIs, will have to blend attack with the holding up role. The leggie will play as the lone specialist spinner with JP Duminy's occasional offies lending assistance.

Stats and Trivia:

Angelo Mathews averages 78.83 as Test captain, second only to Donald Bradman.

Mahela Jayawardene requires 3 takes to reach 200 Test catches.

Rangana Herath has nabbed 48 victims in 9 Tests at Galle, second only to the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, who lapped up 111 wickets in 15 matches.

If picked in the XI, the Galle Test will be Vernon Philander's first in the subcontinent.